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Official South Melbourne Hellas thread 🔵⚪

One of Australia’s biggest soccer clubs will put forward its case to replace Western United as the A-Leagues’ 13th professional team after the Wyndham-based club was stripped of its licence.

Victorian giant South Melbourne Hellas has reignited its interest to join the game’s professional ranks, eight years after it was knocked back from joining the top-tier competition.

South Melbourne was among the game’s heavyweights in the National Soccer League, winning four championships, before the A-Leagues took over as the game’s premier competition in 2005/06.

The club was frozen out of the A-Leagues when it formed and was overlooked in 2018 when it applied for the competition’s then-11th licence, which ultimately went to a Western United bid that promised to privately build its own stadium.

However South co-president Bill Papastergiadis told the Herald Sun the club would throw its hat in the ring once again after Western United’s licence was terminated.

“We’ve built the technical base for a club that’s needed to enter the A-League,” he said.

“We will be submitting documents (to the Australian Professional Leagues) and our supporters demand it”.

It comes after Western United was stripped of its A-Leagues licence on Monday, putting the nail in the coffin of a trouble-plagued saga for the club.

In a bid to strengthen advocacy and off field performance the club also added former Labor MP Philip Dalidakis to its board in recent months.

South Melbourne currently plays in Victoria’s National Premier League — Australia’s second-tier — out of Lakeside Stadium.

More than 3000 fans attended the club’s historic Australia Cup round of 32 victory against Adelaide United in July, with it also attracting large crowds across its campaign in the newly created Australian Championship competition last year.

Mr Papastergiadis said South Melbourne had the fan base to justify A-League entry.

“The supporter base is there, the crowds we get are in excess of what some A-League clubs get,” he said.

“We’re a ready made club … we’ve made a significant investment in football.”

Mr Papastergiadis said he hoped South Melbourne’s entry into the A-League would inspire other traditional clubs in the sport to follow suit.

South Melbourne — formed in 1959 after the merger of Hellenic, Yarra Park and South Melbourne United — was named Oceania club of the 20th century, with its legends including Socceroos Paul Trimboli, Alan Davidson and Ange Postecoglou.

Postecoglou famously coached the club — made up of semi-professional athletes — in the 2000 FIFA Club World Cup and faced off against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United.
Click to expand...

 
https://www.smfc.com.au/2026/08/11/media-statement-south-melbourne-signals-a-league-intention/

Media Statement: South Melbourne signals A-League intention​

South Melbourne FC wishes to signal its intention to open formal dialogue with the Australian Professional Leagues and relevant stakeholders regarding the prospect of securing future A-League Men’s and A-League Women’s licences.

The club believes the time is right to explore a return to the highest level of domestic football, building on the significant progress South Melbourne has made both on and off the pitch.

South Melbourne won the inaugural Australian Championship in 2025 and currently represents Australia in the Oceania Professional League, a competition that has received support from both the Federal and Victorian Governments.

Participation in the OFC competition has seen South Melbourne become Australia’s 13th professional football club and accelerate its transition towards a full time professional football environment.

On the pitch, the club continues to compete strongly across multiple competitions and is currently a Quarter Finalist in the 2026 Australia Cup.

Importantly, South Melbourne does not see participation in the A-Leagues as replacing its existing football commitments.

The club’s ambition is to maintain its presence in the Oceania Professional League, Australian Championship and NPL Victoria while exploring the opportunity to add A-League Men’s and A-League Women’s teams to its football structure.

Co-President Bill Papastergiadis said South Melbourne had always been an aspirational football club and should continue looking for opportunities to compete at the highest possible level.

“South Melbourne has always been an ambitious and aspirational club. That has been part of our DNA throughout our history and it remains the case today,” Papastergiadis said.

“Winning the Australian Championship, representing Australia in Oceania as a professional club and competing on the national stage through the Australia Cup have demonstrated what this club is capable of.

“We are incredibly proud of where we have come from, but we are equally excited about where we can go.

“Our ambition is not to leave behind the competitions that have been important to our journey. We want to continue competing in the NPL, Australian Championship and Oceania Professional League while exploring whether South Melbourne can also have a place in the A-Leagues. This will open up even more opportunities for players across Victoria to play at a higher level.

“We believe South Melbourne should always aspire to compete at the highest level available to us, and we believe the time is right to begin that conversation.”

The club enters that conversation from a position of significant strength.

More than 150 businesses are supporting South Melbourne in 2026, providing strong financial and commercial backing and demonstrating confidence in the club’s long term direction.

South Melbourne also operates from Lakeside Stadium under a long term lease arrangement, providing an established professional home, strong matchday infrastructure and a highly profitable operating model.

Co-President Andrew Mesourouni said the club’s passionate and established supporter base was central to its ambitions.

“Our supporters have continually shown up in significant numbers for our biggest matches, creating an atmosphere at Lakeside that demonstrates the appetite that already exists around this club,” Mesourouni said.

“South Melbourne is ready made. We know who we are, we know our identity and we have generations of supporters who have grown up with this club.

“We are proud of our history, but equally proud of what we are building today. Through our growing network of partner clubs, schools and community programs, we are connecting with more young people, families and communities across Melbourne.

“We believe there is a genuine opportunity to bring that history, identity, supporter base and growing community to the A-Leagues. Through our history and location, there is an opportunity for ready-made derby matches, and we also believe there will be strong commercial interest in our participation, including via broadcast.”

The women’s game would be integral to any future A-Leagues discussions.

South Melbourne has invested significantly in its female football program and believes any future professional licence should encompass both A-League Men and A-League Women, providing genuine pathways from junior football through to the highest levels of the Australian game, regardless of gender.

With more than six decades of history, an established supporter base, significant commercial backing, professional football operations, an expanding community footprint and a long term home at Lakeside Stadium, South Melbourne believes it has a compelling foundation from which to explore the opportunity.

The club acknowledges that any future expansion or licensing process would require extensive consultation with the Australian Professional Leagues, Football Australia and other relevant stakeholders.

At this stage, South Melbourne is signalling its intention to commence that dialogue and formally explore what a future pathway into the A-Leagues could look like.

The club looks forward to engaging constructively with all relevant parties about what role South Melbourne can play in the future of professional football in Australia.

For all media enquiries, please contact George Kouroumalis at media@smfc.com.au.

– ENDS –
 
SMFC1959 said:
https://www.smfc.com.au/2026/08/11/media-statement-south-melbourne-signals-a-league-intention/

Media Statement: South Melbourne signals A-League intention​

South Melbourne FC wishes to signal its intention to open formal dialogue with the Australian Professional Leagues and relevant stakeholders regarding the prospect of securing future A-League Men’s and A-League Women’s licences.

The club believes the time is right to explore a return to the highest level of domestic football, building on the significant progress South Melbourne has made both on and off the pitch.

South Melbourne won the inaugural Australian Championship in 2025 and currently represents Australia in the Oceania Professional League, a competition that has received support from both the Federal and Victorian Governments.

Participation in the OFC competition has seen South Melbourne become Australia’s 13th professional football club and accelerate its transition towards a full time professional football environment.

On the pitch, the club continues to compete strongly across multiple competitions and is currently a Quarter Finalist in the 2026 Australia Cup.

Importantly, South Melbourne does not see participation in the A-Leagues as replacing its existing football commitments.

The club’s ambition is to maintain its presence in the Oceania Professional League, Australian Championship and NPL Victoria while exploring the opportunity to add A-League Men’s and A-League Women’s teams to its football structure.

Co-President Bill Papastergiadis said South Melbourne had always been an aspirational football club and should continue looking for opportunities to compete at the highest possible level.

“South Melbourne has always been an ambitious and aspirational club. That has been part of our DNA throughout our history and it remains the case today,” Papastergiadis said.

“Winning the Australian Championship, representing Australia in Oceania as a professional club and competing on the national stage through the Australia Cup have demonstrated what this club is capable of.

“We are incredibly proud of where we have come from, but we are equally excited about where we can go.

“Our ambition is not to leave behind the competitions that have been important to our journey. We want to continue competing in the NPL, Australian Championship and Oceania Professional League while exploring whether South Melbourne can also have a place in the A-Leagues. This will open up even more opportunities for players across Victoria to play at a higher level.

“We believe South Melbourne should always aspire to compete at the highest level available to us, and we believe the time is right to begin that conversation.”

The club enters that conversation from a position of significant strength.

More than 150 businesses are supporting South Melbourne in 2026, providing strong financial and commercial backing and demonstrating confidence in the club’s long term direction.

South Melbourne also operates from Lakeside Stadium under a long term lease arrangement, providing an established professional home, strong matchday infrastructure and a highly profitable operating model.

Co-President Andrew Mesourouni said the club’s passionate and established supporter base was central to its ambitions.

“Our supporters have continually shown up in significant numbers for our biggest matches, creating an atmosphere at Lakeside that demonstrates the appetite that already exists around this club,” Mesourouni said.

“South Melbourne is ready made. We know who we are, we know our identity and we have generations of supporters who have grown up with this club.

“We are proud of our history, but equally proud of what we are building today. Through our growing network of partner clubs, schools and community programs, we are connecting with more young people, families and communities across Melbourne.

“We believe there is a genuine opportunity to bring that history, identity, supporter base and growing community to the A-Leagues. Through our history and location, there is an opportunity for ready-made derby matches, and we also believe there will be strong commercial interest in our participation, including via broadcast.”

The women’s game would be integral to any future A-Leagues discussions.

South Melbourne has invested significantly in its female football program and believes any future professional licence should encompass both A-League Men and A-League Women, providing genuine pathways from junior football through to the highest levels of the Australian game, regardless of gender.

With more than six decades of history, an established supporter base, significant commercial backing, professional football operations, an expanding community footprint and a long term home at Lakeside Stadium, South Melbourne believes it has a compelling foundation from which to explore the opportunity.

The club acknowledges that any future expansion or licensing process would require extensive consultation with the Australian Professional Leagues, Football Australia and other relevant stakeholders.

At this stage, South Melbourne is signalling its intention to commence that dialogue and formally explore what a future pathway into the A-Leagues could look like.

The club looks forward to engaging constructively with all relevant parties about what role South Melbourne can play in the future of professional football in Australia.

For all media enquiries, please contact George Kouroumalis at media@smfc.com.au.

– ENDS –
Click to expand...
It’s time to stop stuffing around and align the pyramid.
Football is just going around in circles.
 
I feel like I'm being a snail and just catching up to discussion last year - but I am assuming the 4 stars on the SMFC logo is for the NSL Championships? I recall seeing discussion that the Aus Championship win from last year was considered a national title, so will there be a a 5th star?
 
NicCarBel said:
I feel like I'm being a snail and just catching up to discussion last year - but I am assuming the 4 stars on the SMFC logo is for the NSL Championships? I recall seeing discussion that the Aus Championship win from last year was considered a national title, so will there be a a 5th star?
Click to expand...
If we add all the cups and the NPL titles in we will have to rethink the layout again.

1786419801333.png
 
Hellenic_blue&white said:
Any chance to see it without paying?
Click to expand...

South Melbourne Hellas announces new A-League ambition after Western United’s exit
A Victorian soccer giant with a massive fanbase has renewed ambition to re-apply to join the A-Leagues now a spot is available after Western United was officially stripped of its licence this week.

One of Australia’s biggest soccer clubs will put forward its case to replace Western United as the A-Leagues’ 13th professional team after the Wyndham-based club was stripped of its licence.

Victorian giant South Melbourne Hellas has reignited its interest to join the game’s professional ranks, eight years after it was knocked back from joining the top-tier competition.

South Melbourne was among the game’s heavyweights in the National Soccer League, winning four championships, before the A-Leagues took over as the game’s premier competition in 2005/06.

The club was frozen out of the A-Leagues when it formed and was overlooked in 2018 when it applied for the competition’s then-11th licence, which ultimately went to a Western United bid that promised to privately build its own stadium.

South Melbourne will have another go at joining the A-Leagues after Western United’s license was terminated

However South co-president Bill Papastergiadis told the Herald Sun the club would throw its hat in the ring once again after Western United’s licence was terminated.

“We’ve built the technical base for a club that’s needed to enter the A-League,” he said. “We will be submitting documents (to the Australian Professional Leagues) and our supporters demand it”.

It comes after Western United was stripped of its A-Leagues licence on Monday, putting the nail in the coffin of a trouble-plagued saga for the club.

In a bid to strengthen advocacy and off field performance the club also added former Labor MP Philip Dalidakis to its board in recent months.

South Melbourne currently plays in Victoria’s National Premier League — Australia’s second-tier — out of Lakeside Stadium.

More than 3000 fans attended the club’s historic Australia Cup round of 32 victory against Adelaide United in July, with it also attracting large crowds across its campaign in the newly created Australian Championship competition last year. Mr Papastergiadis said South Melbourne had the fan base to justify A-League entry. “The supporter base is there, the crowds we get are in excess of what some A-League clubs get,” he said.

“We’re a ready made club … we’ve made a significant investment in football.” Mr Papastergiadis said he hoped South Melbourne’s entry into the A-League would inspire other traditional clubs in the sport to follow suit.

South Melbourne has once again expressed interest in joining the A-Leagues

South Melbourne — formed in 1959 after the merger of Hellenic, Yarra Park and South Melbourne United — was named Oceania club of the 20th century, with its legends including Socceroos Paul Trimboli, Alan Davidson and Ange Postecoglou.
Postecoglou famously coached the club — made up of semi-professional athletes — in the 2000 FIFA Club World Cup and faced off against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United.
 
SMFC1959 said:
South Melbourne Hellas announces new A-League ambition after Western United’s exit
A Victorian soccer giant with a massive fanbase has renewed ambition to re-apply to join the A-Leagues now a spot is available after Western United was officially stripped of its licence this week.

One of Australia’s biggest soccer clubs will put forward its case to replace Western United as the A-Leagues’ 13th professional team after the Wyndham-based club was stripped of its licence.

Victorian giant South Melbourne Hellas has reignited its interest to join the game’s professional ranks, eight years after it was knocked back from joining the top-tier competition.

South Melbourne was among the game’s heavyweights in the National Soccer League, winning four championships, before the A-Leagues took over as the game’s premier competition in 2005/06.

The club was frozen out of the A-Leagues when it formed and was overlooked in 2018 when it applied for the competition’s then-11th licence, which ultimately went to a Western United bid that promised to privately build its own stadium.

South Melbourne will have another go at joining the A-Leagues after Western United’s license was terminated

However South co-president Bill Papastergiadis told the Herald Sun the club would throw its hat in the ring once again after Western United’s licence was terminated.

“We’ve built the technical base for a club that’s needed to enter the A-League,” he said. “We will be submitting documents (to the Australian Professional Leagues) and our supporters demand it”.

It comes after Western United was stripped of its A-Leagues licence on Monday, putting the nail in the coffin of a trouble-plagued saga for the club.

In a bid to strengthen advocacy and off field performance the club also added former Labor MP Philip Dalidakis to its board in recent months.

South Melbourne currently plays in Victoria’s National Premier League — Australia’s second-tier — out of Lakeside Stadium.

More than 3000 fans attended the club’s historic Australia Cup round of 32 victory against Adelaide United in July, with it also attracting large crowds across its campaign in the newly created Australian Championship competition last year. Mr Papastergiadis said South Melbourne had the fan base to justify A-League entry. “The supporter base is there, the crowds we get are in excess of what some A-League clubs get,” he said.

“We’re a ready made club … we’ve made a significant investment in football.” Mr Papastergiadis said he hoped South Melbourne’s entry into the A-League would inspire other traditional clubs in the sport to follow suit.

South Melbourne has once again expressed interest in joining the A-Leagues

South Melbourne — formed in 1959 after the merger of Hellenic, Yarra Park and South Melbourne United — was named Oceania club of the 20th century, with its legends including Socceroos Paul Trimboli, Alan Davidson and Ange Postecoglou.
Postecoglou famously coached the club — made up of semi-professional athletes — in the 2000 FIFA Club World Cup and faced off against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United.
Click to expand...
Is that Chat GPT?
 
biggiemic said:
You boys gonna hand in your memberships? Surley can't be part of the cartel league!

Hows the timing, literally hours after Western United officially dissapeared in to the Abyss, how good.
Click to expand...
Oddly enough membership card is plastic, just like our support will learn to be.

Im not gotten rid of that easily, I follow a club no matter WHAT league it plays, if its our destiny to play a handful of plastics a few times a year then so be it..
 
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